Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1887-11-22
AFTER THEFERE.

AAR&af0O8S'-In6
tamus-What Mr.. Barnum Says-The
Attack ON the Watchman-The Ele-
plants Attack ON Schmidt - The
Dead FEET Lion.
BRIDGEPORT, Nov. 21.-This has been a
day of excitement in Bridgeport rarely
equalled-never excelled in Bridgeport an
Maine to California and across to Europe the
news about the walls, roars and trumpetings
of the diving elephants and lions last night
has been borne on the electric wires. The
people here, especially the women and chill
dreh, have been in a highly wrought up
state, expecting every moment to see some
wild beast of the jungle appear ready to
pounce upon them.
From New Haven came about 200 to day
to see the ruins of the 'Greatest Show on
Earth" People focked in from suburban
places by the hundreds. A stream of people
poured all day toward the ruins. Only the
ashes remain of this great show building.
There are the carcasses of some of the ele-
plants, lions, tigers and other large animals,
but nothing can be seen of the hundreds of
small animals, birds, snakes and seals.
One of the large elephants which escaped
was found this morning drowned in the
Sound near the lighthouse where it had fed
in it's fright. Aside from this the only ami
NAL that escaped beyond the grounds was a
large lion, which wandered into Christopher
Richards barnyard, where it attacked cow
and calf, making early breakfast of the
latter. Mrs. Richards undertook to drive the
beast away, not knowing OF realizing the ma
ture of the animal until warned by neigh
Dor, when she made a hasty retreat. The
lion was shot soon after by one of the circus
employees. Otto Mabie, an elephant trainer,
by his heroic efforts saved eighteen ele-
plants.
The fire destroyed the large main building,
in which were stored all the principal ami
mails used in the great show, nearly all of
which were destroyed, including four ele-
plants, five lions, ten leopards, six panthers,
four kangaroes, six horses and large num-
Der of smaller animals. Among the elephants
burned were Alice, Samson and the sacred
white elephant
Mr. Bailey said this morning that 500, 900
would probably cover the loss; that the lost
animals and all the paraphernalia destroyed
would be replaced soon IS possible and
that last nights fire would not interfere with
next seasons show.
The insurance is as follows: On the build
ing 81, 1875, on the animals $35, 600; of the
latter amount 81 500 was on the elephants
burned and $2,250 on the hippopotamus.
The building will be rebuilt soon pos
sible. Besides the above property destroyed
there were two large chariots known as the
Neptune and the Green Tableax car.
The foreign agents of Barnum will be ca
bled to at once to start out all their sub
agents for attractions for next years show.
The fire originated in the north end of the
building in the room where horses are trained
for the ring This apartment was filed with
light material for bedding in the stables. In
less than five minutes time and before the
doors to the animal room could be opened
the heat was too great to approach the build
ing except at the south end. The crowd
around the building was so great that the po-
lice could not keep them away. Not until
the thirty elephants were liberated from the
posts that they were tied to did the crowd
show any fear or make move TO fall back.
These frightened beasts formed into line of
their own accord and marched to the street,
tearing down high gate to reach the street.
Then they started toward Black Rock. He
hippopotamus broke out of an east door and
rushed through the crowd of spectators. The
poor animal had been liberated from his cage
by the flames, but not until the cage timbers
had burned away did he get out. The flesh
dropped off in great patches as he ran and
the sight was horrible to witness.
This is the fifth large FIRE which Mr. Bar
mum has experienced. On December 10,
1857, the splendid private residence on Long
Island Sound, at Bridgeport, was burned at
loss of at least 100000. The insurance
was but $29, 900. On July Is, 1865, the
American Museum on lower Broadway was
burned. The loss in this fire was immense,
not alone in stock and curiosities valued at
$500, 900, but in the current profits of the
business, which were at that time netting at
least 500, 900 year. The insurance was on
1y $40,0 900. On March 8, 1868, the Chinese
Museum was burned at very large loss
On December "a, 1871, the Hipotheatron
was destroyed at a loss of at least $500, 900,
with insurance of $50, 600.
The circus also experienced a severe loss
only three years ago while performing on the
lake front at Chicago. Everything was
burned, but, nevertheless, as duplicates are
always carried while travelling, but one per-
Torrance was omitted. In this fire three
giraffes, valued at $40, 900, perished
III an interview with Mr.. Bsrnum, who is
in New York, he says:
stWe will open as usual without a doubt in
Madison Square Garden about the first of
next month";
fsCan you readily replace the animalsa'
F'I believe I can" returned Mr.. Barnum.
s'But the hippopotamus," and here the sug
gestion of a tear trickled down the show
mans cheek, caromed on the big diamond
and struck on the tiled floor with me1an-
choly splash, "the hippopotamus which is
reported saved in the morning papers is lost,
gone-dead."
you, Mr.. Barnum 90
s'Well, little, but am getting used to
being burned out. My wife received the tel
egram about O'Clock this morning and read
it to me. I could not lose the opportunity
of impreseing her with the fact that seeming
Affections often conceal the greatest benefits.
A remark which under the circumstances 1
hardly believe she appreciated I then con-
timed my sleep, feeling sure the morning
papers would tell me the whole story"
The imperturbable complacency with
which Mr.. Barnum receives the news of the
loss of nearly three quarters of million
seems almost ridiculous in its perfection,
and it is evident he looks on the matter as a
great big advertisement from the fact that he
remarked:
s'Don't forget that the show next season
will be bigger and better than ever, because
it will be new and we will have 20 clowns
sure"
Mr.. James A. Bailey, who is the junior
member of the firm of Barnum & Bailey, ar
rived in this city to day. He at once tele-
graphed to Mr.. Barnum: "Will open on
March l on time, just same as no fire, newer
and better than ever before. Have cabled to
our European agents to procure best of ev-
erythiug."
Mr. Hutchinson, who was up to short
time ago one of the proprietors of the circus,
and is still connected with it as general man
dSoIs 4AS OWSP6SOiS W0AO SOAAoSS oS
to the reported insurance, which, to the best
of my knowledge, ia about 100000. The
total loss may be anywhere from $500, 900 to
$3.50, 000" Mr.. Barnum said he thought
these figures we're about correct.
The only serious casualty was the injury
of a German named Schmidt, Of 80 Arch
street, briefly mentioned in the COURIER
yesterday. He encountered one of the stray
elephants, which threw it's trunk about his
waist and felled him, and when he arose and
started to run threw him again. Schmidt
had two ribs and his collar bone broken. He
will recover.
All but one of the twenty eight roaming
elephants had been secured and brought
back to shed on the grounds before day
light. The missing one was drowned in the
Sound. The animal was one of the small
elephants of the herd and not as valuable as
some of the others.
The African rhinoceros which escaped
from the building after being severely burn
ed contributed largely to the general excite
ment by roaming through one of the neigh:
ing streets in a pain-crazed condition and
showing an ugly temper, which fortunatelJ
resulted in no injury to anyone. The ami
L. nj fr